Birthright Israel
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Birthright Israel, also known as Taglit-Birthright Israel (whose logo is trademarked with lowercase 'b' and 'i') is a Zionist organization dedicated to helping Jews who have never been to Israel on an organized trip to travel there. Birthright Israel's goals are to diminish the growing division between Israel and Jewish communities around the world; to strengthen the sense of solidarity among world Jewry; and to strengthen participants' personal Jewish identity and connection to the Jewish people. As of Spring 2007, over 123,000 individuals from fifty-one different countries have participated since the trips began in the winter of 2000.
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[edit] History
Founded in 2000 by Charles Bronfman and Michael Steinhardt in cooperation with the Israeli government, private philanthropists and Jewish communities around the world, the Birthright Israel program has, since its founding, received, and spent, over $200 million on its trips. Designed to give an overview of Israel, the founders brought together top educators, historians and tourism professionals to devise logistical, educational and security standards, unprecedented at the time. Immediately the trips were overwhelming popular, prompting waiting lists and lotteries. Shortly thereafter, the Second Intifada began and the perception was that it was dangerous to travel to Israel so vacancies on trips appeared. Since then, informing participants about the security precautions has been a priority for Birthright Israel, with all trips accompanied at all times by an armed guard. Today, overwhelming demand for spots on the trips has returned in each of the countries where the program operates and waitlists are the norm.
[edit] Requirements
In order to go on a Taglit-Birthright Israel trip, one needs to be Jewish, between 18 and 26 and never have been to Israel on an organized, peer trip before though exceptions are made for people who traveled on the March of the Living program or other programs which visit Israel for 5 days or less.
In general, a Taglit-Birthright Israel trip includes airfare from major cities, hotels, most meals, all transportation within Israel, and costs associated with touring the country for the ten day trip. A $250 USD deposit is required ($300 in Canada); the deposit is refunded upon return from the trip. Airfare or transportation from a participant's home to the gateway city is not included, although the trips depart from multiple cities.
[edit] Trip structure
Trips are organized by different organizations and groups called 'trip organizers', who are accredited by and receive funding from Taglit-birthright israel, which sets extensive logistical, educational and security standards that all of the organizers must follow. All of the trips are required to have licensed Israeli tour educators and have a common set of activities, but may vary in theme, age group, religious practice, and other activities. For example, there are trips geared towards Reform Jews and trips that are geared towards outdoors enthusiasts that include kayaking, rock climbing, and hiking. Most Trip Organizers are Israeli, Canadian or American organizations, but there are trips available for fifty countries in total.
Trips are all ten days long, and often include a so-called Mega Event, which involves speeches by dignitaries, musical performances, and the coming together of all participants currently in Israel, from all trip organizers. All organizers also include, for all or a portion of the trip, a 'mifgash' (encounter), which is an exchange with Israeli peers, mostly from the Israeli Defence Forces where soldiers join the touring groups and share their experiences as full participants. All trips travel throughout the country visiting historical, religious and cultural sites such as the Western Wall (Kotel), Yad Vashem (Holocaust Memorial) and Masada.
The trips are not meant to be an exhaustive tour or education of Israel but a primer or introduction. The program participants are encouraged to either extend their stay in Israel or return on their own for a more extensive experience.
[edit] Funding
Taglit-Birthright Israel receives funding from the Government of Israel; North American Jewish Federations through the United Jewish Communities (UJC), Keren Hayesod, and The Jewish Agency for Israel; and many leading private philanthropists represented by the Birthright Israel Foundation, such as founding co-Chairmen Michael Steinhardt and Charles Bronfman, among many others.
In February of 2007, Sheldon Adelson's family, of the United States, pledged $25,000,000 to the Birthright Israel program, allowing for approximately 20,000 people to take part in the program.[1]
